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AUSTIN, Texas — There was no question about Shane Larkin’s go-ahead 3-pointer for Miami.

But the ball that appeared to ricochet off the hands of Miami’s Kenny Kadji seconds later but went to the Hurricanes — well, look at the replay.

Regardless, there is no overturning the fact the Hurricanes are going to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for only the second time in school history.

The Hurricanes got Larkin’s big shot and the close call, holding on for a 63-59 victory over Illinois last night in the East Regional.

“I mean, I don’t know. It was so many hands, you know. I don’t know who touched it last,” Kadji said while seemingly trying to suppress a smile. “Everybody was getting out there and there was a couple of hands. So I really don’t know.”

After Larkin’s first field goal in about 9 1/2 minutes, D.J. Richardson missed a 3-pointer. In the fight for the rebound the ball looked as if it hit Kadji’s extended hand. But the Hurricanes kept the ball, and Durand Scott made two free throws after that.

“You saw the same video I did,” first-year Illinois coach John Groce said. He added, “hard game to officiate … 50-50 calls are hard sometimes.”

In his postgame news conference, Groce cut off any questions about the play to his players.

Second-year Miami coach Jim Larranaga had said he planned to have more fun than any other coach in the NCAA tournament, and wanted his team to do the same.

They are, but they had to fight to the end — and get what looked like a huge break — to finish off the Illini.

“After the game was over, I was still kind of stunned,” said Larranaga, who danced it up in the locker room when it was over, a video sure to go viral among ’Canes fans. “When I shook hands with John Groce, I was speechless.”

Miami (29-6), the No. 2 seed, advanced to play Marquette (25-8) in Washington on Thursday night.

Larkin, the only non-senior starter for Miami and the ACC player of the year, finished with 17 points.—AP